A Canadian naval warship has helped a U.S.-flagged container vessel owned by a Norfolk company evade pirates off the coast of Somalia.

Canadian Navy spokesman Michael McWhinnie says the U.S.-flagged vessel was the Maersk Virginia, owned by Maersk Line Limited in Norfolk, which is in turn owned by a Danish company.

Another U.S.-flagged ship owned by Maersk was attacked by pirates on April 8. Some of the 20-member crew of the Maersk Alabama hid in the engine room and took one pirate hostage before persuading the attackers to leave the boat with the ship's captain as hostage.

They released the pirate but their attackers did not release the captain. The five-day drama ended when one pirate surrendered and Navy SEALs shot dead the three remaining pirates after they pointed their guns at the captain.